Sealant dispensing device



April 22, 1969 Y J. M. scHuMANN ET A1. 3,439,839

SEALANT DlsPENsING DEVICE Filed sept. 16, 1965 sheet of 3 April 22, 1969J, M SCHUMANN ET AL 3,439,839

SEALANT DISPENSING DEVICE Filed sept. 1e, 1965 sheet Z of 5 April 22,1969 1, M SCHUMANN ET AL y3,439,839

SEALANT DISPENSING DEVICE Filed sept. 16, 196s sheet 3 of s umu UnitedStates Patent O 3,439,839 SEALANT DISPENSING DEVICE `loseph M. Schumann,Inglewood, Paul I. Stayboldt, Los

Angeles, and Ralph J. Cook, Inglewood, Calif., assignors, by mesneassignments, to Products Research & Chemical Corporation, Burbank,Calif., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 16, 1965, Ser. No.487,700 Int. Cl. B65d 35/28, 5/72, 25/40 U.S. Cl. 222-95 8 ClaimsABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a device fordispensing a viscous material such as a sealant, and more particularly,pertains to such a device in which the viscous material is purchased ina cartridge having a piston-like rear wall which is advanced todischarge the material from a -dispensing nozzle at the forward end ofthe cartridge. In preparation for a -dispensing operation, the cartridgeis placed in the barrel of a dispensing gun with the nozzle of thecartridge protruding from the forward end of the gun. The gun may beadapted to advance the piston-like rear wall of the cartridge bymechanical force but preferably the gun is adapted to advance thepiston-like rear wall of the cartridge by fluid pressure and for thispurpose the gun may be adapted for connection to a suitable source ofcompressed air.

A typical dispensing gun of this general type as heretofore produced hasa limited range of applications because it is designed to employ only aspecific `dispensing cartridge having a specic dispensing nozzle. Thepresent invention is directed to the problem of making such a dispensinggun flexible in the sense that it may be employed with differentcartridges for different purposes over a wide range of fields.

With regard to ilexiblity, a special feature of the invention is that itprovides for a wide range of interchangeable nozzles for use selectivelyand makes it possible to purchase a cartridge with an integral generalpurpose dispensing nozzle and then substitute a particular nozzle for aparticular application. With further reference to flexibility, theinvention also makes it possible to employ the dispensing gun fordispensing viscous material from a container in the form of aconventional collapsible tube, the collapsible tube having a tapereddispensing nozzle.

In the preferred practice of the invention, a basic gun structure isprovided with interchangeable barrels to 'be used in different ways fordifferent dispensing operations. Some of the interchangeable barrels-may be made of plastic material with suitable provision for keeping thebarrels from being subjected to internal fluid pressure of a destructivemagnitude. As will be explained, the interchangeable barrels overhangthe forward ends of the dispensing cartridges to confine the dispensingcartridges in the barrels.

Some of the interchangeable barrels are adjustable longitudinallyrelative to the base structure of the gun for the purpose of placing anenclosed dispensing cartridge under longitudinal compression against anannular 3,439,839 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 ICC elastomeric sealing memberat the base end of the barrel. With the cartridge sealed around its rearend 'the pressurized uid for carrying out the dispensing operation isconfined to the interior of the cartridge.

Other of the interchangeable barrels are arranged for sealing contactwith the front end of an enclosed cartridge. In such an arrangement thepressurized fluid has access to the outer periphery of the cartridge aswell as the interior of the cartridge and the gaseous uid exerts arelatively high thrust on the cartridge to maintain sealing pressurebetween the cartridge and the barrel at the front end of the barrel.

When a conventional commercially available dispensing cartridge isemployed having a tapered general purpose nozzle and it is desired tosubstitute `another nozzle from a wide range of interchangeable nozzles,the forward end of the barrel of the dispensing gun is closed by aspecial end member which may be termed an adapter. The adapter has anaxial passage therethrough with the inner or rear end of the passageadapted to embrace the base portion of the dispensing nozzle of thecartridge and with the forward or outer end of the passage formed with ascrew thread for engagement with the interchangeable nozzlesselectively. This structural combination makes it possible to truncatethe dispensing nozzle of the cartridge and to wedge the truncated nozzleinto the inner end of the axial passage of the adapter. When thepressurized fluid is introduced into the barrel it urges the cartridgeforward to wedge the truncated nozzle of the cartridge into sealingengagement with the adapter. With the cartridge nozzle truncated, anyselected specialized dispensing nozzle may be mounted in the adapter foruse in dispensing the content of the cartridge.

When it is desired to dispense viscous material from a collapsible tubehaving a tapered dispensing nozzle, a special adapter is employed at theleading end of the barrel. The special adapter has a smooth cylindricalbore to permit the tapered nozzle of the collapsible tube to t thereinwith a wedging action. When pressurized iluid is introduced into thebarrel around the collapsible tube the pressurized fluid thrusts thecollapsible tube forward to create sealing pressure where the nozzle ofthe tube fits into the adapter and at the same time the pressurizedfluid progressively collapses the tube to cause discharge of the viscousmaterial through the dispensing nozzle of the tube.

The features and advantages of the invention may be understood from thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative FIG. lis la side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the gun with a plasticbarrel of the gun enclosing a disposable dispensing cartridge, theplastic barrel being selected from a set of interchangeable plastic andmetal barrels;

PIG. 2 is a front end elevation of the gun shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a rear end elevation of the gun;

FIG. 4 is ya fragmentary section on an enlarged scale of the basestructure of the gun on which the interchangeable barrels are mounted;

3 nozzles, one such specialized nozzle being shown in the figure;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the forward end of aconventional cartridge showing how the dispensing nozzle of thecartridge may be truncated for use with the adapter;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the forward end ofthe arrangement such as the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the adapter andthe forward end of the cartridge being shown in section;

FIG. 9 is a side elevatoinal view of another specialized nozzle;

FIG. 10 isa side elevation of the same nozzle as viewed along the line10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 1l is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation showinghow the gun may be employed with a metal barrel selected frominterchangeable barrels for a different method of operation with aconventional dispensing cartridge;

FIG. 12 is a similar view showing how another metal barrel selected fromthe set of interchangeable barrels may be employed with an adapter todispense material from a cartridge having a truncated dispensing nozzle;and

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing how another barrelselected `from the set of interchangeable barrels may be employed with aspecial adapter to dispense material from a collapsible tube.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show what may be termed the base structure of the preferredembodiment of a gun that is adapted for use interchangeably with a setof barrels. The gun is of the same general construction as the gundisclosed in the Detrie et al. Patent 2,838,210 entitled SealantDispensing Device, issued June 10, 1958, which disclosure isincorporated into the present disclosure by reference. The gun has whatmay be termed a base structure, generally designated 20, which forms acylindrical socket 22 to receive the rear end of a selected gun barrel.In FIGS. l and 4, the selected gun barrel, designated 24, is made ofplastic material and is formed at its rear end with an external screwthread 25 for engagement with an internal screw thread 26 in the socket22. The rear wall of the socket 22 is provided with an annularelastomeric member or sealing ring 28.

Compressed air from a suitable source is supplied to the gun by aflexible hose 30 which connects with an angular pasage 32 communicatingwith the socket 22 within the inside diameter of the sealing ring 28.Air ow through the angular passage 32 is controlled by a normally closedvalve 34 which may be opened by mechanical pressure against an operatingplunger 35.

A longitudinal portion 36 of the base structure under the socket 22 isformed with a -longitudinal slot 38 in which is mounted a suitableoperating lever 40 for actuation of the operating plunger 35. Theoperating lever 40 is mounted on a pivot 42 and normally backs against atransverse stop pin 44. The forward end 45 of the operating lever isexposed outside of the slot 38. It is apparent that the base structureshown in FIG. 4 may be gripped by one hand for a dispensing operation,the forward end of the operating lever 40 being manipulated by onelinger to control the dispensing operation. To facilitate such adispensing operation the portion 40 of the base structure of the gun isof undulating configuration in profile as shown to conform with thefingers of the h-and lthat grips the base structure.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower longitudinal portion 36 of thebase structure is further formed with a pair of external grooves 46 onits opposite sides respectively for cooperation with a hand grip 50which may be used with the gun if desired. The hand grip 50 has a pairof side plates 52 with inwardly turned flanges 54 for sliding engagementwith the external grooves 46. A pair of telescoping coaxial screws 55and 56 mount the side plates 52 on the end groove and may be tightenedto immobilize the hand grip at any desired position along the CII .4length of the pair of grooves. The advantage of this arrangement is thatthe position of the hand grip 50 longitudinally of the base structure ofthe gun may be adjusted to suit the operator.

The hand grip 50 may be adapted in any suitable manner to actuate theoperating lever 40 at any position at which the hand grip may beadjusted long the length of the grooves 46. In the construction shownthe hand grip is provided with a trigger 58 which is pivotally mountedon the telescoping screws 55 and 56, the trigger being formed with afinger 60 that extends into the slot 38 of the longitudinalportion 36 ofthe base structure. It is apparent that operating the trigger 58 byfinger pressure causes the nger 60 to swing the operating lever upwardto open the valve 34.

Since a gun barrel is mounted in the socket 22 by screw threads, anynumber of gun ibarrels may be used selectively. For example, the gunbarrel 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 may be used in cooperation with adispensing cartridge in the manner shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5 where thepreviously described base structure 20 is indicated in dotted lines, theplastic gun barrel 24 encloses a conventional dispensing cartridge,generally designated 62, that has a cylindrical cardboard shell 64 witha thin metal front end wall 65. The end wall 65 is formed with an outletport which may be initially closed by a plastic or foil membrane 66shown in FIG. 7, and which communicates with a conventionalgeneral-purpose tapered plastic dispensing nozzle `68. The rear end ofthe cardboard shell 64 is open and is spanned by a piston-like end wall70 which may be advanced by pressurized fluid to discharge the viscouscontent of the cartridge through the dispensing nozzle 68. In theconstruction shown, the piston-like end wall 70 is a cup-shaped plungermade of a suitable plastic material.

The plastic gun barrel 24 is formed with an inwardly curved forward rimor inner flange 72 which overhangs the front end of the cartridge 62 andabuts the front end wall 65 of the cartridge in an annular zone. Theinner diameter of the curved rim 72 is dimensioned so that the curvedrim reinforces the front end wall of the cartridge against buckling inresponse to yfluid pressure inside the cartridge.

It is important to note that the plastic gun barrel 24 is longitudinallyadjustable by virtue of its screw threaded engagement with the socket 22of the base structure 20 and that the gun barrel is dimensioned inlength to serve as means for compressing the dispensing cartridge 62rearward against the sealing ring 28 to cause the rear end of thecardboard shell 64 to make sealing contact with the ring. The advantageof this arrangement is that the compressed air that is introduced intothe socket 22 is confined substantially to the interior of thedispensing cartridge. The plastic gun barrel 24 telescopes snugly overthe dispensing cartridge 62 to reinforce the cartridge and thus enablethe cartridge to withstand the fluid pressure. At the same time thecardboard shell of the cartridge reinforces the plastic gun barrel.

It is desirable that suitable provision be made to keep the plastic gunbarrel 24 from being subjected to internal iluid pressure Without thereinforcement effect of the cartridge shell. For this purpose theplastic barrel 24 may be provided with a vent hole 74 to release anycompressed air that may enter the annular space between the shell of thecartridge and the surrounding gun barrel. Preferably the plastic gunbarrel 24 is provided with longitudinal grooves 75 at its forward endforming longitudinal ribs to facilitate screwing the gun barrel into andout of the socket 22. To replace an exhausted dispensing cartridge, itis merely necessary to unscrew the gun barrel 24, remove the oldcartridge from the gun barrel, insert a new cartridge and then screw thegun barrel tight in the socket 22 to press the rear end of thedispensing cartridge in sealing contact with the sealing ring 28.

FIG. 6 shows a second plastic gun barrel 76 which may be substituted forthe plastic gun barrel 24 for cooperation with an adapter 78 whichserves as a forward end member for the barrel. As best shown in sectionin FIG. 8, the adapter 7,8 has an axial passage therethrough. The innerend of the axial passage is formed |by an inlner cylindrical skirt 80'that is dimensioned for wedging engagement with the base portion of thetapered dispensing nozzle 68 of the previously mentioned dispensingcartridge 62. The forward or outer end of the axial passage of theadapter 78 is formed with an internal screw thread y82 for engagementwith the external screw thread y84 of a special dispensing nozzle thatis selected from a set of interchangeable nozzles. Such a specializeddispensing nozzle may be what is termed a duckbill nozzle 8S shown inFIG. 6. As another example, the specialized nozzle may be what is termeda comb nozzle 86 shown in FIG. 8. As another example, aspecializednozzle may be the nozzle 88 shown in FIGS. 9 and l0 which isprovided with a guiding lip 90. The lip 90 may be employed to guide thenozzle along the edge of a panel for application of a viscouscomposition to the margin of the panel. Thus the nozzle y88 may beemployed to apply a strip of sealant to a glass plate in preparation forinstalling the glass plate in an automobile. Still another specializednozzle that may be used is the angular nozzle 92 shown in FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 8, the gun barrel 76 has an inwardly curved forward rimor inner dange 94 Iwhich abuts the forward surface of the adapter 78 toretain the adapter in opposition to the thrust exerted on the adapter byinternal uid pressure.

To prepare a conventional dispensing cartridge l62 for use with theadapter 78, the dispening nozzle 68 of the cartridge is truncated asindicated in FIG. 7, the result being a tapered truncated nozzle 68a ofrelatively short axial dimension. The cartridge 62 with the truncatednozzle 68a is positioned inside the gun barrel 76 in the manner shown inFIG. 8 with the truncated nozzle 68a wedged into the cylindrical skirt80 in a fluid tight manner. The plastic gun barrel 76 is then screwedinto the socket 22 of the base structure of the gun to force the rearend of the dispensing cartridge into sealing contact with the sealingring 28- as indicated in FIG. `6r. Any selected specialized nozzle maythen be substituted for the original nozzle `68 by simply screwing thespecialized nozzle into the adapter 78 as shown in FIG. 8. The plasticgun barrel 76 may have the usual vent hole 74.

FIG. 11 shows how a metal gun barrel 95 may be employed with the basestructure 20. In this instance the metal barrel is screwed tight againstthe sealing ring 28. The forward end of the steel barrel 9S is formedwith an inwardly curved rim or inner ilange 96 and a suitable taperedelastomeric internal sealing ring 98 is seated against the curved rim. Aconventional dispensing cartridge 62 is enclosed by the gun barrel 95andthe forward rim 100 of the dispensing cartridge seats against thetapered sealing ring 98 with a highly effective wedging action. Thecompressed air introduced into the base end of the steel barrel 95thrusts the dispensing cartridge forward against the sealing ring 98 andat the same time acts on the piston-like end wall 70 to dispense viscousmaterial from the cartridge. It is to be noted that since the compressedair has access to the outer periphery of the cartridge the cartridgeitself is not subjected to radial air pressure.

FIG. l2 shows how a metal barrel 102 may be threaded into the socket 22of the base structure to cooperate with the previously mentioned adapter78. A conventional dispensing cartridge 62 with the usual tapereddispensing nozzle 68 is employed and the dispensing nozzle is severed toprovide a truncated dispensing nozzle 68a for cooperation with theadapter 78 in the previously described manner. The compressed air thatis introduced into the socket urges the dispensing cartridge `62 forwardwith the consequence that the truncated nozzle 68a of the dispensingcartridge makes sealing contact with the adapter and the adapter in turnmakes sealing contact with an inwardly curved rim 104 of the forward endof the gun barrel 102. FIG. 13 shows a steel barrel 105 that may bescrewed into the socket of the base structure for cooperation with acollapsible tube 106 having a tapered dispensing nozzle 108. Thedispensing nozzle 108 is made of plastic and is of stepped configurationto permit the nozzle to be shortened selectively for different effectivenozzle diameters. The steel barrel is similar to the steel barrel 102and in like manner is formed with a forward inwardly curved rim or innerange 110. In fact the steel barrel 102 may be substituted for the steelbarrel 105.

The cuved rim 110 of the steel barrel 105 overhangs a special plasticadapter 112 in abutment with the forward surface of the adapter. Theplastic adapter 112 has a plain axial bore 114 which is of a diameterfor wedging engagement by the dispensing nozzle 108. When compressed airis admitted into the rear end of the barrel 10S, the cornpressed airurges the collapsible tube forward to tighten the wedging fit of thenozzle 108 in the adapter 112 and to seal the adapter against the curvedrim 110 and at the same time the confined compressed air acting on theperipheral surface of the collapsible tube throughout the length of thetube vcauses the tube to collapse progressively for dispensing theviscous material through the nozzle 108.

My description in specific detail of the selected embodiments of theinvention will suggest various changes, substitutions and otherdepartures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

We claim: 1. In a device of the character described for dispensingviscous materials wherein a disposable cylindrical cartridge containingthe viscous material and formed with an outlet for the material has arear cylindrical rim and is equipped with a piston-like rear wall andthe cartridge is positioned inside the barrel of a gun for advance ofthe piston-like rear wall of the cartridge by Ipressurized uidintroduced into the rear end of the gun, the improvement comprising:

said rear end of the gun being formed with an internal screw thread andbeing provided with an annular elastomeric sealing member having anoutside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the barrel;

said barrel of the gun overhanging the front end of the cartridge inabutment with the front end of the cartridge and being formed with ascrew thread at its -rear end to engage said internal screw thread ofthe rear end of the gun for longitudinal adjustment to apply pressure tothe front end of the cartridge thereby to place the cartridge underlongitudinal compression to press the rear rim of the cartridge againstthe sealing member to substantially restrict the pressurized fluid tothe interior of the cartridge;

said barrel of the gun being made of plastic material and being providedwith a vent hole to release pressurized fluid trapped between the outercircumference of the `cartridge and the inner circumference of thebarrel to prevent the creation of excessive fluid pressure against theinner circumference of the barrel.

2. In a device of the character described for dispensing viscousmaterials wherein a cylindrical cartridge containing viscous material isprovided with a piston-like rear wall and a forward tapered dispensingnozzle and the cartridge is positioned inside the barrel of a Igun foradvance of the piston-like wall of the cartridge by pressurized uidintroduced into the rear end of the gun, the improvement comprsing:

the forward end of the barrel being spanned by an end member forengagement with the front end of the cartridge,

said end member being formed with an axial passage,

the inner end of the passage being -dimensioned for engagement with theouter circumference of said dispensing nozzle near the base of thenozzle, the outer end of said passage being adapted for releasable engagement with a substitute nozzle whereby the nozzle of the cartridge maybe truncated and the truncated nozzle may be wedged into the rear end ofsaid passage and a substitute nozzle may be mounted in the front end ofthe passage to be used instead of the original nozzle of the cartridgefor dispensing the viscous material;

said end member being movably mounted in the barrel and the front end ofthe barrel being shaped for overhanging engagement with the forwardsurface of the end member.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which an annular elastomericsealing member is mounted inside the barrel at the rear end thereof; and

in which the rear end of the barrel is provided with screw threads forlongitudinal adjustment of the barrel to press rearwardly on the endmember and thereby compress the cartridge longitudinally against thesealing member to substantially restrict the pressurized fluid to theinterior ofthe cartridge.

4. In a device of the character described for dispensing viscousmaterial from a collapsible tube having a tapered dispensing nozzle, thecombination of a barrel to enclose the collapsible tube, said barrelhaving a forward end wall with a circular opening therein dimensionedfor wedging engagement therewith by the dispensing nozzle of thecollapsible tube; and

means to introduce uid under pressure into the barrel to urge thecollapsible tube forward fpr wedging engagement of the nozzle with theaperture and to progressively collapse the tube todispense the materialinto the nozzle.

5. In a dispensing device of the character described wherein a barrelextends forward from a base structure and a hand grip on the basestructure is provided with a trigger for actuating a valve to controlthe admission of compressed air into the barrel, the improvementcomprising:

said hand grip being adjustable along the length of the base srtucture;and

an operating member extending along the length of the base structure toactuate said valve and to be operated by said trigger throughout therange of positions of the hand grip. p

6. An improvement as set forth in claim 5 in which said base structurehas a downwardly open longitudinal slot;

in which said operating member extends longitudinally along said slot;and f in which a portion of said trigger extends into said slot foractuation of the operating member. 7. An improvement as Set forth inclaim 6 in which said operating member protrudes from the slot formanual manipulation independently of the trigger whereby the hand gripmay be removed from the base structure and the protruding portion of theoperating member may be manipulated by inger pressure to control thevalve.

8. In a device of the character described for dispensing viscousmaterial wherein a cylindrical disposable cartridge containing theviscous material and formed with a forward dispensing nozzle iscontractable in response to external uid pressure and for a dispensingoperation the cartridge is placed inside the barrel of a dispensing gunwith provision for introducing pressurized fluid into the rear end ofthe barrel, the improvement comprising:

said barrel being formed with a forward radially inwardA ange;

said nozzle of the cartridge being truncated;

an adapter having an inner circular portion embracing the truncatednozzle and having a radial flange interposed between the forward end ofthe cartridge and said forward radially inward flange of the barrel; and

a nozzle mounted on said inner circular portion of the adapter todispense the content of the cartridge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,282,473 11/ 1966 Moore 222-3 89X 1,418,263 5 1922 Kennedy. 2,784,878 3/ 1957 Theodorou 222-95 2,884,1664/ 1959 Vosbikian et al 222-323 3,136,456 6/ 1964 Sherbondy 222-3 273,221,947 12/ 1965 Penn 222-327 FOREIGN PATENTS 660,031 10/ 1951 GreatBritain.

809,161 2/ 1959 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. FREDERICK R. HANDREN, AssistantExaminer.

U.S. C1. X.R.

